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Need 7mm Dakota loads!

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12 July 2009, 18:15
elmerdeer
Need 7mm Dakota loads!
Hi guys my custom 7mm Dakota is arriving in a week and I need some good loads preferably with heavier bullets 160grs and up? And if you guys have the velocities can please post them.
Thank you
elmer
13 July 2009, 00:50
fredj338
A few years ago I had Dakota rechamber my Ruger #1 for 7mmDakota, great round. I feel it's slightly more efficient than the STW & a much better choice than the 7mmRUM. I settled on the 160grNP as my goto load for everything.
I worked w/ RL22 & IMR7828. I setteld on IMR7828, it was more repeatable, accuracy & vel. were good for both. I would like to try some RL25. Being a bit slower, I might squeeze a bit more vel. out of it but the IMR7828 works really well. Work upto this load but it's not max. in my rifle.
73gr IMR7828, FLRM, 160grNP @ 3.310" OAL. Vel. is 3250fps+ & will shoot just under 1 MOA w/ consistancy. 72.5gr or RL22 is about the same w/ a tiny bit better accuracy, but vel. swing pretty large from lot to lot. At 3250fps, it's plenty flat shooting & does well out to 400yds in the wind. The Speer 160gr makes a cheaper practice bullet & hits pretty close to POI of the 160grNP, but about 60fps slower. I haven't even tried the lighter bullet wts. The 160gr shoots so well, I just don't see much advantage to a lighter bullet. Maybe a BArnes TSX in the 140gr wt. could take the high vel. impact but I think 160gr-175gr premiums are the way to go w/ the bigger 7mags. I've taken a small bull elk, antelope & a Hym. Tahr w/ the 160grNP, all one shot, but nothing farther than about 150yds.


LIFE IS NOT A SPECTATOR'S SPORT!